Break out the tinfoil, let’s pretend we’re off to another planet (this one looks like its losing the plot anyway!)…We’re getting ready for Camp Bestival. We’ve packed all our stuff, now it’s time to sort out some Outer Space costumes to go with this year’s theme.

The thing I love about fancy dress costumes is that they don’t have to be perfect, they can be messy, absurd and falling apart because they only need to last a day. For me, having a baby was the perfect opportunity to come up with ridiculous outfits for any occasion because I had a tiny person to put them on. Christmas! Halloween! The Royal Wedding!.. it was when I dressed him as a box of takeaway noodles for an NCT get together (that happened to fall on Chinese New Year) that I realised I should probably go back to work and make use of all of this pent up creativity!

He’s now almost six and he’s still letting me dress him up, (which is very good of him, I know this won’t last forever!)… So here are a bunch of space outfits, modelled by my kids with varying levels of craftiness – from absolute beginner to craft ninja.

THE ROCKET SCIENTIST

LITTLE REY & BB8

This is a great ‘no sew’ costume. It’s simple and Rey is the ultimate kickass role model for fierce little women. BB8 might not last a long time, but he’s very cheap to make and fun to paint. You could make his head out of papier maché, but I always feel like that’s a bit of a faff. This is a simple version that involves a lot less mess.

RICHARD BRANSON’S MAIDEN VOYAGE

Not content with a regular old red festival wagon, Richard has added some serious power to launch himself into space. If you start saving now, you might be able to join him on his maiden voyage, mud permitting.